Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson wants current skipper James Tavernier to join him in the Ibrox Hall of Fame but the Record Sport columnist’s opinion has split the Hotline. Tavernier, who signed a new long term deal through the week, has seen the rise of the club back from the Championship to title winners two seasons ago and Europa League Finalists.
But Jim Fleming, Hamilton, said: “Barry wants Tavernier in the Hall of Fame with just two cups won in six years? Come on!” And Jim McClean, Rothesay, said: “This is the guy who was touted for £10 million, he has signed a new contract because nobody else wants him, he is overrated. Yes he scored 17 times in Europe, 80 per cent penalties. But my granny could score penalty kicks.”
However, Davie Kirkpatrick, Cambuslang, agreed with Ferguson, saying: “Barry is totally right. No player has done as much as Tavernier to take Rangers back to the top. He leads by example, his character to ignore the boo boys a few years ago and his goals and assists make him well worthy of that place in the Hall of Fame.”
Antonio Colak is another Rangers player splitting opinion. But John Davidson, Armadale, has no doubts over the new centre forward. He said: “So many people will be eating humble pie after writing off Colak in the number nine shirt. He reminds me so much of Dado Prso and I hope he has as much success and more. Onwards and upwards.”
Moving on and a difficult week in Europe saw Rangers and Hearts keep their qualifying hopes alive with Gers drawing 2-2 at home to PSV Eindhoven and Hearts narrowly losing 2-1 away to Zurich. A united front among Hotline callers for all three of our representatives to succeed? Dream on.
Alan Flett emailed: “A decent result for Hearts in Switzerland so let’s hope they can fly the flag for Scotland along with Rangers. Motherwell and Dundee United should be ashamed of themselves and Celtic are a laughing stock. If they manage to get one point in their Champions League group they will have had a successful campaign.” Ian McDonald, Innerleithen, said: “I have no doubt that Hearts will qualify but Robbie stop being negative away.”
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: “With Craig Gordon once again performing heroics to keep Hearts in the tie it opens up the debate about who is the best goalkeeper in Scotland. I believe Joe Hart just shades it from him. And with the wealth of experience he brings Celtic have a fighting chance of progressing from the group stages when the big hitters visit Celtic Park.”
Meanwhile, Steve McSherry, Uddingston, said: “I was disappointed that Hearts couldn’t leave Zurich with a win after taking the lead. However after their display I’m hopeful that along with Rangers Scotland will have two clubs in the Europa League.”
Gordon Ferguson, Kilwinning, added: “They say you make your own luck in life and Rangers certainly did last year a European final putting Scottish football back on the map if that’s lucky give me some of the same this year. Here’s hoping Celtic have the same luck unlike last years triple European exits and can keep Scotland on the European stage.”
Caller Colin McArdle set the cat among the pigeons yesterday when he claimed any Rangers success over the last two years was down to luck and that they’d be shown up by a “bang average” PSV side. But Jim Mackenzie, East Kilbride, blasted back: “I see Colin is getting his excuses ready early by saying PSV Eindhoven are average. It’s a pity his mighty Celtic lost to European giants FC Midjtyland in 2021 and avoided PSV by doing so. Knocked out of three European competitions last season to teams like Bodo/Glimt and they say Rangers were just lucky in the run to the Europa League final beating the tournament favourite to get there. You couldn't afford enough brasso to clean their brass necks.”
Jimmy Strangers, Tranent, said: “Colin, take your head out of where the sun don't shine. You mock Rangers for the so-called crisis in Paradise and an own goal in the Scottish Cup and the luck they carry in Europe and an average Dutch side in PSV Eindhoven who would gub your lot. I really look forward to VAR when it comes in as your lot will lose out on all the dodgy penalties you get due to certain referees’ blindness and maybe the end of extra time at the end of games when you are drawing or losing.”
Tam Williamson, Lanarkshire, said: “Regarding Alfie Mullin's reply to my recent letter, dreamers like him forget that Celtic have now almost a completely different side than what failed under Lennon with Jota being the best player since Henrik Larsson to play in Scotland. Celtic will compete with the best in the Champions League whilst Rangers bottle will crash in Eindhoven next week. The £40 million loss will start the alarm bells ringing in Ibrox once again which seems to be a regular occurrence within this trophy starved relatively new club.”
Finally and John Scott, Grassmoor, agrees with our very own Michael Gannon on the alarm bells ringing over the supposed £50m SPFL grand plan.
Only John is even more pessimistic. He said: “Michael Gannon was perhaps being polite in not mentioning that the majority of the clubs who commissioned the recent report have American owners. All very successful business people that are struggling to mirror that success on the soccer fields of Scotland.
"Build it and they will come only applies in Scotland if the entertainment equals the facilities. Surely they must see we have too many teams with too few quality players. A poor product with no chance of attracting new sponsors with a further £20m to throw at us. It's inevitable that Rangers and Celtic will move to a more lucrative league, likely followed by Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen.
"What then for Scottish football? If they want to create a vision of a soccer league with American razzmatazz in Scotland they need slim down the numbers and if that means amalgamation so be it. If not we can continue to remember Del Trotters famous quote. "Don't worry Rodney, this time next year we'll all be millionaires.”
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